U.S. Vatican Embassy and Caritas to host conference on children with HIV/AIDS

Vatican City, Sep 25, 2009 / 03:58 am (CNA).- The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See and Caritas International will host a day-long conference on October 14 concerning the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and the improvement of access to testing and treatment for children living with HIV.

According to a schedule of the conference, panel discussion topics include good practices and “state of the art” testing and treatment for disease sufferers. One panel will also discuss how the Catholic Church, inter-governmental organizations, governments and other key players can strengthen their partnerships to help the young victims of HIV and TB and to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, will deliver words of welcome to the attendees. He will be joined by Dr. Miguel H. Diaz, U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the Holy See, and Lesley-Anne Knight, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis.

Father David Glenday, MCCJ , Secretary General, Union of Superiors General, will also give a welcome.

Conference panelists include members of the World Health Organization’s HIV Department, researchers and pharmaceutical company representatives, and priests, religious and charity heads from around the world.

After the conference a two-day training will be held for caregivers and advocates on how to raise awareness and how to inspire effective action to protect the vulnerable.